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Theodore "Ted" Soular Jr.

Theodore "Ted" Soular, 71, of Bemidji, MN, passed away with his family by his side, Monday, November 25, 2013 at his home in Bemidji.

A Celebration of Teds life will be held 11:00 am, Saturday, November 30, 2013 at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Ted was born November 19, 1942, in Detroit, MI, to Theodore and Jessie (Moore) Soular. His early childhood years were spent in Hibbing before the family moved to Cohasset, MN. Ted spent an enchanted childhood growing up on the banks of the Mississippi. Even as a youngster he loved the out-of-doors. Countless hours were spent rowing up river, fishing, and trapping, often spending whole days exploring the river and camping out. As Ted grew older, he found a love of running and competing in wrestling helped give him the self-discipline to challenge himself to strive for excellence, both physically and mentally. He never satisfied his thirst for knowledge. He said more than once that the sad thing about growing older was that he was running out of time and there was so much more he wanted to learn. He was a student of history and loved literature. He always had two books by the bedside: one fiction and one non-fiction. He balanced his life with time spent in active, physical exercise and quiet, leisure reading and study. Becoming a teacher was a natural choice for Ted and he was a master at it. He taught English for 34 years.

Sports also played an important role in Teds life both as a participant and a coach, but also as an enthusiastic spectator. In high school he enjoyed track, running, cross-country, and wrestling and continued those interests when he attended Bemidji State College. Upon graduating from college, his first teaching assignment was in Roseau, MN, where he established the wrestling program. He continued coaching wrestling when he moved his wife and young family to Bemidji in 1968 and later also helped with the cross-country and track programs. He enjoyed working with young people, both in sports, and in the classroom.

Above all else in his life was Teds love of his family. He was devoted to his wife, Jackie, and their three children, and infected them all with his passion for the outdoors and love of nature. A day spent in the woods, in the canoe, on the bike or hiking a trail was the ultimate joy for Ted. When the children were young, camping became a way for the whole family to explore nature and play together. Ted was a gifted story teller and so many of his outings became material for tales told round the campfire for years to come. Ted and Jackie enjoyed wintering in Fountain Hills, AZ the past several years, and made a new circle of friends there also.

Ted was a loving husband, a devoted father, a loyal friend. Those of us who were privileged to share his life will never forget his kindness, his sense of humor, his endless stories of his love friends and family.

He is survived by his Mother, Jessie of Virginia, MN., his wife of 48 years, Jackie, a son, Robert, of Ukiah, CA, two daughters, Kristine Klinger (Tony Michels) of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Karen (Dan) Malinowski of Fosston. Also five beautiful granddaughters: Leah and Jess Malinowski, Emily and Erin Klinger, Morgan Michels, and an adorable great-grandson Kaesen. Three brothers Bob (Cheryl) Soular of Hoyt Lakes, MN., Larry (Bonnie) Soular of Easton, Maryland, Pat (Deb) Soular of Hoyt Lakes, MN.

He was preceded in death by his father, Theodore.

In lieu of flowers the family requests gifts to Sanford Hospice of Bemidji.